This fine stems from four specific routes where flights were over 30 minutes late on more than half their journeys for a period of five or six months in a row. The DOT views such a pattern as evidence of unrealistic scheduling, a practice they have the power to penalize under consumer protection laws.
This action against JetBlue marks the first time the DOT has issued a fine specifically for chronic flight delays. The department indicated that it is currently investigating other airlines for similar scheduling practices.
JetBlue responded with a statement emphasizing their commitment to on-time performance, highlighting their investment of tens of millions of dollars over the past two years to mitigate delays. However, the airline also pointed to staffing shortages within air traffic control, particularly in the Northeast and Florida where they have a major presence.
"The U.S. deserves the best air traffic control system globally," the airline stated, urging the government to modernize technology and address staffing issues to reduce delays impacting travelers.
To avoid a costly legal battle, JetBlue opted to settle with the DOT for the $2 million.
The problematic flights were those between JFK Airport and Raleigh-Durham, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, as well as between Fort Lauderdale and Hartford, Connecticut.
The New York-Raleigh route experienced chronic delays for five months starting in June 2022. Delays on the JFK to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando routes persisted for five months from June 2023, while the Fort Lauderdale-Hartford route saw delays for six months starting in June 2023.
The agreement stipulates that JetBlue will pay $1 million directly to the U.S. Treasury. The remaining $1 million will be used to compensate passengers affected by JetBlue-caused cancellations or delays exceeding three hours, excluding weather-related disruptions. These payments, potentially in the form of vouchers, must be at least $75.
Historically, JetBlue hasn't had a strong record for on-time performance. Data from Cirium's 2024 On-Time Performance Review shows they ranked second to last among major U.S. airlines, with 74.5% of flights on time.
Despite this, JetBlue did show significant improvement in 2024 compared to 2023, when FlightAware data showed 31.5% of their flights were delayed.
The airline's concentration of flights in the Northeast, a region with airspace congestion and significant air traffic controller shortages, contributes to their operational challenges.
The FAA successfully met its hiring goal of 1,800 controllers in the last fiscal year and aims to hire an additional 2,000 by September 30th of this year. As of last May, the agency reported a nationwide shortage of 3,000 controllers.
